“In the last few weeks, we’ve had a rash of derailments and other types of trouble caused by the recent heat wave,” Schumer told reporters gathered at Grand Central Terminal. “At least three of those malfunctions in July were linked to the very high temperatures that we’ve had.”

Schumer wants the Transportation Research Board and National Transportation Safety Board to look into the impacts of the changing climate on railroad infrastructure, especially vulnerable electric wires, transformers, and tracks to determine what changes need to be made.

“There’s no question the climate’s getting warmer and the heat-related incidents are increasing. We shouldn’t just twiddle our thumbs, particularly in a palce like New York where we’re so dependent on mass transit,” said Schumer.

Schumer said some of the equipment is nearly a century old, particularly on the New Haven line.